Automatic timing device



' Aug. 2, 1949. F. E. HUMMEL 2,477,805

AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR.

fiakkzmiwmmz Aug. 2, 1949. F. E. HUMMEL AUTOMA'IICv TIMING DEVICE '2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1944 JhuerzZZ? derzcffEH W W PatentedAug. 2, 1949 ED?" STAT ENT' ()FF-lzCE ao'reme'rrc TIMING DEVICEFrederick E. Hummel, GhicagoJll.

Application September 14, 1944, Serial No; 554;095'

9 Claims;

This invention relates in? general to an autom'atic timing device: andis more particularly described as arr apparatus which may be adjustedfor boiling eggs any desired length of'time, and automatieall'yremovingthemfrom the boiling water when the selected? time has elapsed;

'I-heob'jbct eftheihventibn i'stoprovide a novel form of holding;releas-i'rrg and? withdrawing means; the egg" holder being raised fromthe boiling" water'by spring"- mechanism located at the bottom of andbelbw the egg container; and the entireapparatus being adapted tobeinserted in any container for water and removed therefrom at" will? Afurther obiect' or the invention is to provide v improved trigger" orreleasing mechanismwhich when actuated at the end of a predetermined" orselected time results in: the eggs being withdrawn from the water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved combinedsetting and timing apparatus which" is arranged in a column; normally'locatedabove the level of the liquid inwhich the eggs are boiled; and isadjustable to vary the difference in timing;

A still furtherobiectof the invention is" to provide improved simpletiming apparatus which is easily set for various? timing; actions and isso simple in construction that it" is not. likely to become damaged orget out of" order through continuous or hard usage.

Another object of. the invention is to provide a timing apparatus orthis: kindwhich is generally of new. and improved construction and ischaracterized by simplicity oi design as well as ease and ram-11w ofassembiy- Other objects ofthe invention and various advantages andcharacteristics of' the present. timirrg: device or apparatus and thepartsassociated therewithwill be apparent from a consideration of thefollowing, detaileddescription;

The invention consists. in the. several novelv features are hereinafterdescribed and more particularly definedby the: claims at the conclusionhereoi.

In thedrawings which. accompany and form a part of this specification ordisclosure. and in.

which. like letters andnumerals oi? reference denote corresponding;parts throughout the several views:

Figure l; is a. perspective ofi an egg; cooking timer accordance: withthepresent invention; set tor a five: unit cooking intervals;

Figure 2 is; a. sectional; of the: structure 2; shown in Figure 13,showing also: the; bottom springs structure;

Figure 3- is a detail: of. the escapement: mechanism;

' Figure i is a plan or the spring raising: structure; and

Figure 5 is=a cross sectiomasstalrenon the line 5--5 of 'liigure: 2.

This: invention: comprises a. tillfilflg? column: having a. baseadaptlrrgtit tlrbe supportedzin avessei for containing water; with a.removableegg hold.- in'g container: at thebotiiorm at thecolumn. heldin. a. spring; pressed; lower: position. by a latchwhichv released bythe; timing: mechanism.

Referrin now. more particularly to the draw ih'gs; a: base H13.preferably: of. sheet metal, has a downwardly projecting; rlmwizthsupporting; ieet. H at intervalsx Secured. to.- the. central.portion is. a hollow supporting. column in with: outwardly extendingflanges l3: a-t...the.- upper end.- for sup porting a hollow housing; Msomewhat larger in cross: sectional area than the; lower column pon-Both the-lower snpportandathe housing may be. of any desired:v shape;but they are. preferably square or rectangular to seat an. egg. carrier.It; for movement. up and. downr on the. columnportion, This carrier. iapreferably made. of. sheet. metal having a bottom L61 perforations, 11in which eggs may be seated and with. an outer marginalrim of;upstanding projections lid spaced. apartless than the diameter at an.egg. the. pro.- jections preferably having rolled upper extremities iii.to, obviate sharp edges. ii the carrier. is. made. of. metaL. At thecentral; portion. of. the. bottom, a perforation larger than they crosssec.- tion of. the hollow column. is provided; by cutting angulartongues. 20;. turning, them upwardly and. securing; a. hollow shell 2!.thereto. by means of rivets 22' or other suitableifastenihg devices.This. shell is of a size to. slide freely upon the hollow column 5'2,the corner portions 23 extend upwardly to provide guiding contact andthe portions 25 between the corners are cut away todecorate and lightenthe structure.

Mounted in the base It! upon ears 25 turned downwardly therefrom arepivoting" rods 26 disposed at opposite sides of the column. Pin-arm 2'?-having a perforated extremity 2& is pivoted on each of-tberods 26; on-earm extending at one ide of the colllnm; H2 fitom one of the rods. 26,.and: the} other extendingroppositely from the: other rod atv the otherside oh the column. Each arm. has. a. roller 219 at its outer or? tree:end adapted-1 tofengag e: the under. side or the base at the eg carrierl5. A coil spring 3!] is also wound about each of the rods 25 having oneextremity extending through and held by a downward projection 3| fromthe base Ill, and the other end engaging the arm 21 and tending to forceit upwardly.

Spring latches 32 are secured by screws 33 or other suitable fasteningdevices to the upper side of the base IE adjacent the shell 2| atopposite sides of the column I2 and each has an offset upper portion 33adapted to closely but resiliently engage the upper enlarged housingportion l4. At the upper end of each latch which is preferably made ofsheet metal, is a rounded extremity 34 adapted to engage the under sidesof two projections 35 extending outwardly from the proximate face of thehousing l4, leaving a space between the projections where the roundedend is not engaged.

At a short distance below the top of each latch, the material thereof isbent outwardly to form an ear 35 for assisting in resetting the eggcarrier. Mounted within the housing is an escapement mechanismcomprising a plate 31' having projections 38 for spacing it inwardlyfrom one wall of the housing and for securing it in place through thewall of the housing by means of inserted screws 39. Another plate 40 isspaced from plate 31 by washers 4| and 42 mounted on screws 43, and twoscrews 43 on each side mount an intermediate plate 44 thereon held inplace between upper and lower sets of washers 4| and 42, the plates 44being separate and extending inwardly from their respective supportingscrews. Mounted upon a shaft 45 between the plates 31 and 40 is a gearwheel 46 which meshes with a pinion 41 mounted on a shaft 48 whichcarries an escapement wheel 49 on the outer side of the plate 40. Alsoloosely mounted on the shaft 45 is a pinion 50 connected to a ratchetgear adjacent the gear 46. A ratchet dog 52 secured to the gear 46 isadapted to engage the ratchet gear 5| in one direction of movement todrive the pinion 5!! and the gear 46 together, but in the otherdirection of movement of the pinion 50, the gear 46 is not connected bythe ratchet dog 52.

Extending outwardly from the plate 40 at the top and bottom are ears 53in which a vertical escapement shaft 54 is mounted for free rotativemovement. At the upper end of the shaft is a collar 55 supporting twoopposite escapement counter weights 56 by means of cross wires 51.Intermediate the ends of the shaft 54 are escapement pins 58 extendingtherefrom and adapted to engage the escapement projections 59 of theescape wheel 49.

An escapement operator, timer and release mechanism is adjustablymounted for vertical movement and comprises a vertical operating bar 69with grooves 6| in its opposite edges seating the opposite plates 44 andguiding the operating bar in its vertical movement. At the lower end ofthe bar is a weight 62 to assist its downward movement and internally ofthe bar in a recess 63 thereof, is a rack 64 at one side of the recessadapted to engage the pinion 50, moving the pinion in accordance withthe movement of the operating bar. The operating bar and the weight 62thereof is of a size to move freely within the hollow column l2 and thelower end 65 of the column is preferably closed and made liquid tight,but is secured to the base from the under side thereof by fasteningscrews 66. Thus the lower end of the operating bar is moved freelywithin 4- the hollow column l2 without being affected by any liquidtherein.

At the upper end of the operating bar is a cross piece 61 which extendsbeyond the sides of the housing |4 having perforated extremities inwhich are mounted release bars 68 each having a wedging extremity 69 atits lower end adapted to extend between the projections 35 at theopposite outer sides of the housing 40 when the operating bar reaches alower position. Each of the releasing bars 68 is threaded at its upperend and is adjustably held in place by a fastening nut 10.

In the cross piece is a finger aperture 1| by means of which it may beraised.

In one face of the housing I4 is a vertical aperture 12 having a numberof teeth 13 at one side thereof and numerals 3, 4, 5 and 6 designatingvarious time intervals for which the device may be set. Supported nearthe upper end of the operating bar is a timing plate 14 spaced from theoperating bar by a block 15 both secured thereto by fastening screws 16.This plate has ratchet teeth 16 at one outer edge adapted to be engagedby a locking latch 11 to hold it against downward movement in any raisedposition. The outer face of this plate 14, visible when it is raisedwith the bar 60, has numerals designating time intervals correspondingwith those at the sides of the teeth 13. A recess 18 extends lengthwiseof the plate 14 for engaging the inner end of a knob 19 which is seatedbetween the teeth 13 and adjustable with respect thereto for setting theoperation and movement of the operating bar to one of the unitscorresponding to the designations of the teeth 13 or on the plate 14,and the engagement of the inner end of the knob 13 with the lower end ofthe recess 18 limits the height to which the operating bar may beraised. This height is just sufficient to place the lower ends of [16releasing bars near the top of the housing 4.

At the top of the housing is a cover plate which fits around theoperating bar, leaving an opening 8| in which the bar and the fronttiming :plate 14 is movable.

In order to operate this apparatus as an egg cooking timer, the eggcarrier is pressed downwardly until the upper ends of the latch bars 32are engaged below the projections 35. Eggs are placed in the carrier andthe carrier is inserted in the water or other liquid in which the eggsare to be cooked, the water covering the eggs and extending upwardly toabout the bottom of the housing. The operating mechanism is set by 7raising the operating bar for the units designated by the numerals onthe plate 14 or by setting the timing knob 19 in one of the positionsdesignated by the teeth 13. If the knob is set for some position, theoperating bar can only be lifted until the bottom of the plate aperture18 engages the inner end of the operating knob.

The operating bar is then released and the weight of the operating baris sufficient to drive the escapement mechanism through the engagementof rack 64, pinion 50, its connected ratchet gear 5|, and throughratchet dog 52 to gear 46, thence through pinion 48, escapement wheel49, escapement bar 58, escapement shaft 54 which is given additionalinertia by the escapement counter weights 56, thus allowing theescapement bar 60 gradually to descend within the housing and hollowcolumn l2, carrying with it the releasing bars 68 until their wedgingsurfaces 61 are moved between the projections 35 at opposite sides ofthe housing to engage below the upper curved arm-nos extreimtizest 34::of; the. spring latches: 32; thus allowing thespringarms: Z-x'l-stoforcethe. egg cart-- rierr and}. the. eggs; therein upwardly from thelowerto the upperposition. as indicated in Fig ure: 2-; raising the;eggs outoi the cooking liquii This apparatus may also be. similarly"used for timing. other. operations and mechanisms. A21.- though the;units; most commonly employed in cooking eggs: are? minutes, the;intervals of: time may; be; difierently' selected. if" desired.

This: inventionis not to be. understood. as reto the details set forthsince these. may be modified within the scope; of" the appended claimswithout: departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and; desire:tor secure: by Letters Patent is:

1. In a timer. of. the. class described, a base with anupwardlyextending' support, an egg carrier movable vertically on thesupport, resilieent. means; carried. by the base for pressing thecarrier upwardly, latches extending upwardly the, carrier, pmiections;atthe outside. of the support-tor engaging the upper ends of, thelatches to: hold. the. carrier in its lower position, and: timingmechanism. within the support, inclruding: arr operating. bar extendingaboye the top of the support, a cross head at the top of the bar, andreleasing bars extending downwardly from the cross head and havingwedging extremities for engaging the upper ends of the latches anddisengaging them from the projections.

2. A timing mechanism of the class described, comprising a base with anupwardly extending support, a carrier movable vertically on the support,spring means between the carrier and base for moving the carrierupwardly, latch means extending upwardly from the carrier, pro jectionsfrom the support for engaging the upper ends of the latch means to holdthe carrier in lowered position, timing mechanism mounted in the supportcomprising an operating bar extending outwardly through the top of thesupport, a cross head at the top of the bar having a finger hold portionfor raising the bar, releasing means extending downwardly from the crosshead to disengage the upper ends of the latches from the projections, anapertured plate carried by the bar and located adjacent the inner faceof one side of the support, and means adjustable in height along thesupport and projecting inwardly for engaging the lower end of theaperture of the plate thus determining the extent to which the operatingbar is raised.

3. A timing mechanism of the class described, comprising a base with anupwardly extending support, a carrier movable vertically on the support,spring means between the carrier and base for moving the carrierupwardly, latch means extending upwardly from the carrier, projectionsfrom the support for engaging the upper ends of the latch means to holdthe carrier in lowered position, timing mechanism mounted in the supportcomprising an operating bar extending outwardly through the top of thesupport, a cross head at the top of the bar having a finger hold portionfor raising the bar, releasing means extending downwardly from the crosshead to disengage the upper ends of the latches from the projections, aplate with a longitudinal aperture carried at the upper end of theoperating bar and having timing unit designations at the outside of theplate, a timing projection knob, a

6 notched slot: in. the support in; which thetiming projection knob isvertically adjustable, theslots hazvirng= timing designations andtheprojection of-thejltnob, engaging: in: the aperture of the plate go:limit". the upward movement of the. operating:

4. A timing. mechanism of the class described, comprising: a. base withan. upwardly extending support; a carriermovable vertically onthesuppont,,spring means between the-carrier and. base for: mowing. thecarrierupwardly, latch means ex tending upwardly: from the carrier,projections theisupport for engagingthe upper ends of the. latch means:tov hold; the carrier in lowered; position, timing mechanism mounted inthe: sup port comprising-am operating bar extending out-L wardly throughthe top or the support, a cross. head at the top. off the bar having afinger hold portion: for; raisingthe. bar; releasing means ex tendingdownwardly from the cross: head to dis engage the. upper ends of. thelatches: from the projections; a plate secured tothe upper end of the.operating: bar: inside of the support, the plate having. atoothed. edgeand: unit timing designations; an: adjustabletiming projection and aslot in which it is. mounted for vertical movement in the support, theprojection engaging the plateto. its; upward. movement; and a movablelocking latch pivotedf in the support and engageable with the toothededge to hold the operating bar in any raised position.

5. A timer of the class described, comprising a base with an upwardlyextending hollow support, an egg carrier movable vertically on thesupport, a latch connected to, and extending upwardly from, the carrier,the support having an exterior projection with which the upper end ofthe latch is engaged when the carrier is in lowered position, a timerdisposed for the most part within the support and having releasing meansdisposed outwardly of the support and movable downwardly to disengagethe latch from the projection, and spring means mounted on the base andresiliently urging the carrier upwardly.

6. An egg cooking timer, comprising a base with an upwardly extendingsupport having an enlarged housing at the top, an egg carrier movablevertically on the support, latches extending upwardly above the carrierand having offset central portions to engage below the housing, saidhousing having projections adapted to be engaged by the upper ends ofthe latches, a timer within the housing having releasing means movabledownwardly to disengage the upper ends of the latches from theprojections, and spring means mounted on the base and resiliently urginthe carrier upwardly, the upward movement of the carrier being limitedby the engagement of the offset portions of the latches with the bottomof the housing.

7. In a timing mechanism of the class described, a base having a hollowupright support, a carrier movable downwardly on the support, springmeans mounted on the base and arranged to urge the carrier upwardly, apair of latches connected to, and extending upwardly from, the carrier,exterior projections on the support for engaging the upper ends of thelatches and holding the carrier in depressed position, and timingmechanism mounted for the most part within the support and havindepending, downwardly movable releasing bars disposed outside of thesupport and adapted in response to downward movement to engage the upperends of the latches and wedge them away from the projections so as 7 toallow the spring means to raise thecarrier on the support.

8. In an egg cooking timer, a supporting base with an upwardly extendinghollow support liquid-tight at the bottom, an egg carrier mounted forvertical movement on the outside of the support, spring means mounted onthe base for pressing the carrier upwardly on the support, latchesextending upwardly from the carrier at the sides of the support,projections on the outside of the support for engaging the upper ends ofthe latches to hold the carrier in the lower portion. and timingmechanism mounted for the most part in the support and including anoperating bar movable downwards relatively to the support, and releasingmeans connected to the upper end of the bar, extending downwardlytherefrom outwards of the sides of the support and adapted in responseto downward movement of the bar to engage the upper ends of the latchesand release them from said projections.

9. A timing mechanism of the class described, comprising a base with anupwardly extending hollow support, a carrier movable vertically on thesupport, spring means between the carrier and base for moving thecarrier upwardly, latch means extending upwardly from the carrier anddisposed exteriorly of the support, projections on the support forengaging the upper ends of the latch means to hold the carrier inlowered posi tion, and timing mechanism mounted for the most part in thesupport and comprising a vertical operating bar extending outwardlythrough the top of the support, a cross head at the top of the barhaving a finger hold portion for raising the bar, releasing meansextending downwardly from the cross head, disposed outwards of thesupport, and adapted to disengage the upper ends of the latches from theprojections, and means carried by the operating bar and on the supportfor predetermining the time of the downward movement of the bar.

FREDERICK E. HUMMEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following referen ces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 915,711 Blanchard Mar. 16, 19091,096,250 Lamb May 12, 1914 1,355,817 Curtis Oct. 19, 1920 1,410,754Hayward Mar. 28, 1922 1,504,546 Curtis Aug. 12, 1924 1,560,578 HummelNov. 10, 1925 2,361,446 Anderson Oct. 31, 1944

